June 02, 2008

Melvyn Weiss Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison

Melvyn Weiss, the co-founding partner of Milberg, received a 30 months prison sentence on Monday for his involvement in a federal racketeering conspiracy.

U.S. District Judge John Walter of the Central District of California, said it was "difficult to reconcile" Weiss's numerous charitable contributions with his criminal conduct, which "strikes directly at the core and heart of the judicial system," The National Law Journal reports via Law.com.

Weiss is required to report to prison on Aug. 28. His attorney Benjamin Brafman, of Brafman & Associates in New York, asked Walter to allow Weiss to serve his sentence at a men's minimum-security facility in Morgantown, W.V.

The sentencing upheld Weiss’ previous plea deal in which he agreed to turn over $9.75 million and pay a $250,000 fine. Walter said Weiss must pay $5 million of the forfeiture within seven days. He will have 180 days to turn over the remaining $4.75 million.